Car dumping apparatus



June 21, 1938. F. PARDEE, JR

CAR DUMPING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 U i'kqm/rfxwoczfi M? M ATTORNEYS Filed Oct. 23, 1936 June 21', 1938. F. PARDEE, JR

CAR DUMPING APPARATUS v Filed'ot. 25, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 ATTORNEYS June 21, 1938. PARDEE, JR 2,121,365

CAR DUMPING APPARATUS Filed 001'. 23, 1956 5 Sheets--Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS F. PARDEE, JR

CAR DUMPING APPARATUS June 21, 1938.

Filed Oct. 23, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENT OR.

BY f7? N/(BrRDEEg/R ATTORNEYS June 21, 1938. F, PARDEE, JRJ 2,121,365

CAR DUMPING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 25, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Patented June 21, 1938 UNITED STATES CAR DUMPING APPARATUS Frank Pardee, Jr., Hazleton, Pa, assigncr to Anthracite Separator Company, Hazleton, Pa., a

corporation of Pennsyl vania Application October 23, 1936, Serial No. 107,143

1 Claim.

My invention relates to apparatus for dumping or emptying mine cars of material such as coal or ores. Apparatus heretofore used for dumping mine cars have either been slow in operation or have required an attendant or expensive operating apparatus which is liable to get out of order, particularly when subjected to the rough usage incident to the handling of coal or ore. In the handling of coal, particularly bituminous coal, certain of the dumping apparatus heretofore used had a tendency to break up the coal into smaller pieces or dust which is a serious disadvantage.

My present invention obviates these various disadvantages and provides a dumping apparatus requiring no regulating or automatic mechanisms and of a sturdy construction to withstand the rough treatment to which such apparatus is subjected and which enables the car to be dumped without injury and with a. minimum of breaking or pulverizing of the coal or other material being handled. The various features of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a side view of apparatus embodying a preferred form of my invention and showing the passage of mine cars through a complete cycle of dumping'and returning to original position; Figs. 2 and 3 are side views on a somewhat larger scale of mine cars at the entrance of the dumping apparatus; Fig. 4 is a similar view of minecars at the exit end of the apparatus; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are vertical sectional views on the planes -5 of Fig. 1 and 6-6 of Fig. 2 and 1-1 of Fig. 1 respectively; Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional detail views of supporting elements of the mine cars; Figs. 10 and 11 are similar views of a modified form of supporting elements; Fig. 12 is a side View of a mine car supported by the elements of Figs. 10 and 11; Fig. 13 is a side view of a modified form of mine car and supporting elements; and Figs. 14 and 15 are, respectively, plan side views of a portion of the dumping apparatus and a mine car having a support shown in Fig. 13.

In my invention the dumping apparatus comprises a pair of spaced helical guide and supporting elements diametrically assembled relative to a common axis so that a connecting line between these guide elements at right angles to the axis will rotate about the axis as a pivot as it moves from one end of the assembled helical guide elements to the other. A mine car is provided with a corresponding pair of supporting elements one on each side of the car and so positi'onedxthat, as the mine. car moves lengthwise of the axis of the helical members, these supporting elements will engage and travel along the helical elements so that the car will rotate a complete revolution about the common axis of the helices. In the early part of this rotation of the mine car its contents will be discharged over the lower side edge and received on a discharge chute or hopper having a wall slanting and curving upwardly so as to be slightly spaced from the downwardly progressing side of the car and thence slope downwardly so that the coal or other material is discharged without dropping and falling and therefore with a minimum of breakage or pulverizing. Immediately before entering the stationary guides the mine cars are supported on a platform. As the supporting members of the car engage the front ends of the helical guides the car begins to tilt, before it leaves the platform, and accordingly this platform is so mounted that it is free to rotate with 420 the car about the common axis of the helices as a pivot point, returning to its original level posi tion when the car has passed from it. To limit or lessen the tilting required of this platform the supports for the mine car may be themselves pivoted so that they may tilt to the helical position and thus limit the tilting required of the car itself until it enters completely the helical guideways.

The guideways may be of any suitable type. For example, it may consist of a rail construction having upper and lower supporting and guide surfaces and for this purpose may be of a channel or circular cross-section or other suitable crosssection, or it may consist of a number of closely spaced pairs of rollers between which the supporting element of the car may pass. These roller supports may be so positioned that the weight or thrust of the car is transmitted at all places in a direction at right angles to the axis of rotation of the rollers.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, a series of mine cars 20 connected in spaced sequence pass from stationary rails 2| onto a rockable platform 22 and thence between a pair of spaced helical guide members 23 and 2a which are engaged by supporting elements 25 on opposite sides of the mine car 22 so that the car is supported freely in a diametric position between the guide elements- 23 and E i. The diametric position of the mine car, as it enters between the helical guide members 23 and 24, is substantially horizontal but changes progressively a complete rotation or 360. During the first 180 or half revolution, the mine car is turned completely upside down and is thoroughly dumped of allqof the coal or other material contained in it, this material being received in a chute 26 from which it may be discharged at desired intervals onto a traveling belt conveyor 21 to a car 28 or other conveyance. During the next half revolution the mine car is returned to its original horizontal position and then discharged at the exit end of the helical guide members onto a rockable platform 29 similar to the platform 22 from which it passes onto stationary rails 3|].

As shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3 and also in Figs. 5 and 6, the stationary tracks 2| are aligned with track elements 3| on the rotatable platform 22 as the car 20 passes from the tracks 2| to the platform 22. The platform 22 is in turn supported by pairs of rollers 32 and 33 which ride on semi-circular or arc shaped rails 34 spaced longitudinally of the platform and centered on the common axes of the spaced helical guides 23 and 24 so that the platform and the mine car contained on it may rotate or rock about this common axis as a pivotal point. Consequently, as the guide elements 25 on opposite sides of the mine car engage and pass along the helical guide members 23 and 24 thereby tilting the mine car, the platform 22 may tilt with the car to the position shown in Fig. 6. It will be understood that the mine cars are connected in a continuous series and this connection is most advantageously placed approximately on the axis of the helical elements 23 and 24 so that one car may swivel freely without upsetting a succeeding car.

When a loaded mine car has tilted with the platform 22 to the position shown in Fig. 6 and then leaves or clears the platform so that it is entirely supported by the helical elements 23 and 24, the platform 22 is free to rotate back to its original position. To insure such rotation a weight 35 is secured to the platform 22 near the higher side thereof. This weight tends to pull the platform 22 in a direction reverse to its tilting until the opposite end 36 of the platform is brought against a stop 31 whereupon the platform will be in level position to receive a succeeding mine car.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 4 is similar to that shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6, except that the reverse action takes place. In this case, the platform 29 is supported by rollers 38 and 39 on semi-circular rails 49 so that it may rock to receive a car from the guides 23 and 24 and then come to level position, as the car passes from the guides and is supported entirely on the platform.

During the initial path of the revolution or overturning of the car, one side, as for example the left side in Fig. '7, rotates downwardly in a counter-clockwise rotation from its level position, while the opposite side rotates upwardly from a level position, thus dumping the material over the lower side wall of the car. A wall 4| of the chute 26 extends in an upwardly inclined position beneath the helical guideways 23 and 24 and is then curved as at 42 on a cylindrical curvature so as closely to enclose the helical guides. Consequently, as indicated in Fig. 7, the lowering end of the car is always closely spaced from the wall 42 until all of the material is discharged, whereupon it slides downwardly on the inclined part 4|. This avoids dropping of the coal, which has a tendency to break or smash it. The helical guiding and supporting members 23 and 24 may be made of any suitable construction. In general, however, it is necessary to provide a support against movement in either direction transverse to the length of the guide at any particular point. For example, as shown in Fig. 8, a guide member 43 of cylindrical curvature is provided having suitably mounted brackets 44 for mounting it onto a framework 45 and also having a longitudinally extending slit 46. The slit 46 of each guide member faces a corresponding slit in the diametrically opposite guide member.

The supporting element 25 of the mine car is provided with a neck 41 that extends through the slit 46 to a supporting base 48 that is riveted or otherwise secured to the wall of the car 20. With this construction the guide member is movable longitudinally in the slit but is positively prevented from moving upwardly or downwardly or sideways relative to the guide member.

In a modification shown in Fig. 9 the guide members are in the form of a channel having a vertical connecting web 49, an upper flange 5D and a lower flange 5| which closely engage the head of the guide member 25. The guide member 25 is secured to a neck 52 of a supporting element 53 by means of the screw 54 and is thus attached to the side wall of the car 20. In this case the guide member is prevented from slipping out of the open side of the channel by reason of the fact that the guide member on the opposite side of the car fits closely against its corresponding vertical web 49 thus preventing the side slip.

In the modification shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 the guide elements are members formed of a series of spaced pairs of rollers 55. These rollers are preferably grooved as shown at 56 to closely engage the supporting members 25 of the mine car. length as shown in Fig. 12 to extend through two or more of the pairs of rollers so that it is securely held in position. The supporting element 25 may be of any suitable construction, as for example that of Fig. 8 or 9. Where pairs of rollers 55 are employed, they are preferably placed outside of the inclined and curved wall 4l42 of the hopper 26 so that the coal or similar material shall not get in the roller elements. Therefore the neck of the car support 25 extends through a slit 51 in the wall 42 to separate the roller elements from direct cont-act with the coal.

In the construction shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 the positioning of the rollers 55 is preferably such that the thrusts are received at a right angle to the supporting shafts or trunnions and. thus to avoid side thrusts. Where the weight acts vertically, as with the car substantially horizontal, the rollers may be positioned one above the other. in Fig. 11 any side thrust may be received on an upper bearing roller 58 positioned at a suitable angle as indicated in Fig. 11, whereupon the direct downward component of this thrust is received on a supporting roller 59.

Rigid supporting elements, such as element 25 of Fig. 12, require a tilting of the car immediately upon its entry between the helical guide elements. In the modification shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15 supporting elements are provided which may tilt to the angle of the guide elements while the car is stationary or at a different angle so that it may be guided equally well between horizontal and helical guiding members. In this construction the supporting element comprises a substantially horizontal lever 60 pivoted to the side of the car by a pin 6| at approximately the mid-point of the lever and having outwardly projecting arms carrying rollers 62 and 63 near the ends of the tilting lever. Accordingly, this lever The supporting element 25 is of suflicient Where the car is tilted as indicated may tilt to suit any change in angularity of the helical guide elements, as for example, from horizontal to helical inclinations as in Figs. 13 and 15, while the car remains substantially level fore and aft. To hold the lever 60 in approximately level position it is secured at each end to the side walls of the car 20 by springs 54 and 65 which permit tilting only against a yielding force.

Through the above invention a very simple, rugged and easily acting dumping apparatus is provided which is resistant to getting out of order as there are no automatic parts or relatively movable parts to become misplaced or broken. The mine cars are free from any shocks that would have a destructive or wearing effect on them. They are given a turn through a complete revolution and brought to complete revolution without shock or distortion. Coal or other material discharged is not dropped at any point but slides easily from the car being dumped onto an incline with a minimum of change of direction.

The term mine car is used herein in an ilcally arranged relative to an intermediate axis, a

mine car to pass between said guide members having means on each side to engage a guide member whereby said car is rotated on a com-- mon axis of its members as it moves longitudinally thereof, and a receiving chute having a wall extending up and about the helical curvature of said guide members and in close proximity to the side of said car, said guide members being outside of said chute wall and said chute wall being slitted 20 for the passage of said supporting elements.

FRANK PARDEE, JR. 

